Description
Château Angélus 2019, from one of Saint-Émilion’s most famous estates.
The 2019 Angélus is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, an unusually high share of Franc for Saint-Émilion, drawn from old vines on the clay-limestone foot of the town’s south-facing slope. A warm, dry summer with cool nights let the Merlot ripen fully without losing freshness, and the harvest ran from mid-September into early October. Part of the Cabernet Franc was aged in large 30-hectoliter oak casks rather than barrels to protect its perfume. James Suckling (98 points) calls it “an extremely refined and sharpened Angelus with super fine tannins,” and Jeb Dunnuck matched that score, praising its seamless, perfectly balanced mouthfeel. Expect Morello cherry, violet, licorice and dark chocolate over fine-grained tannins. The Wine Advocate’s William Kelley puts the drinking window at 2026 through 2055, so it can be opened soon with decanting or cellared for decades. 14.5% ABV, 750ml.
